Leaky rack?

**alias747** · 08-19-2008 11:08 PM

So when I was installing my ASP DTS on Monday we jacked up my car and I got a bunch of power steering fluid coming out. I always knew I had a slow leak, but it came out fast. I finally found out it was coming from my rack, at least thats what my bud who is a mechanic said. Its like above my drivers side wheel.

Anyway he said that it looks like the boot went bad and more than likely moisture got in and ruined the seal. He isn't an Audi mech but he said that can happen to other cars too. My question is how bad is this for me?

**SoSlow** · 08-19-2008 11:29 PM

time for a rebuilt rack

i got mine from carsteering.com

**b5s4tt** · 08-20-2008 07:30 AM

how much was it? was there a core?

**audimeister** · 08-20-2008 07:56 AM

Someone used regular power steering fluid. You will be chasing leaks forever unless you also do the pump and lines, and switch back to Pentosin.

**jibberjive** · 08-20-2008 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by audimeister

Someone used regular power steering fluid. You will be chasing leaks forever unless you also do the pump and lines, and switch back to Pentosin.

Wow, lots of damage for someone's dumb mistake

**S4-Casa** · 08-20-2008 10:31 AM

Jorgen automotive has the cheapest price...$330 + 175 core.

**AudiA4_20T** · 08-20-2008 10:40 AM

ure mom has a leaky rack

mwahahahhahaha.... I had to

**turbow8** · 08-20-2008 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by audimeister

Someone used regular power steering fluid. You will be chasing leaks forever unless you also do the pump and lines, and switch back to Pentosin.

So you are saying racks don't go bad?

**b5s4tt** · 08-20-2008 02:03 PM

a rack will go on any car in enough time

**audimeister** · 08-20-2008 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Vdubw8

So you are saying racks don't go bad?

No, I'm saying that the most common cause of failure for them is someone putting regular power steering fluid in them. You can replace the rack, but the whole system will have problems after this has been done and should be replaced.

I have had Audis with 140k+ miles with no problems in the power steering department, and some with 50k that leaked like a sieve. The difference was a chain of knowledgable owners who only used pentosin, and never took their car to a place that didn't know the difference (or topped it off themselves with stuff from Pep Boyz.)

I made an assumption. I should have said, "probably."

**MacDaddy** · 08-20-2008 04:42 PM

put some lucas stop leak in there, it can't make things worse.

**alias747** · 08-20-2008 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by MacDaddy

put some lucas stop leak in there, it can't make things worse.

lol put it where?

Someone used regular power steering fluid. You will be chasing leaks forever unless you also do the pump and lines, and switch back to Pentosin.

Well someone who owned it before me knew it was leaking and put a zip tie around the boot, that must have held it for a while and now its coming to a head. So gay that this stuff wasn't mentioned to me at all but I should have been more thorough I guess.

I've put pentosin in it myself and it seems to of been what was in there before so I don't think the cheap power steering fluid was the problem.